CAMINO DE CANDELARIA NORTH
Camino de Candelaria trail has a very rich history, dating back to the early settlers of the region who used it as a way to travel and trade between the various villages. Hiking Camino de Candelaria allowed me to do a little discovery of the history and natural beauty of Tenerife. This pilgrim route is approximately 27 kilometres long and can typically be completed in one day, however, many hikers.. or pilgrims choose to break up the journey and stay in one of the towns or villages along the route. This guide is for the first half of Camino de Candelaria starting in Aguamansa.
CAMINO DE CANDELARIA FACTS
Distance: The total distance for this hike was 11km out and back.
Hike duration: This hike’s duration was a little over 3h. Adding a snack break this hike should take no more than 4h.
Elevation gain: The total elevation gain for this hike was 953m.
Difficulty: This hike is moderately easy. The biggest challenge is almost 1km of elevation gain over a distance of 11km in a short time.
Gear needed: Although Tenerife is warm all year round, you should always remember to check the weather forecast. Remember to bring layers, mainly against the wind. Bringing a fleece for this hike isn’t a bad idea either. If you’re unsure on what else to bring for a hike, read this guide.
My strava upload can be found here: Camino de Candelaria I
GPS route to follow on your watch or a smartphone: Camino de Candelaria.gpx
GETTING TO CAMINO DE CANDELARIA HIKE
By car: This hike begins in Aguamansa village. You can park your car around here.
By bus: You can take a bus no 345, 346 or 348 though always check current schedules: here.
MY EXPERIENCE HIKING CAMINO DE CANDELARIA
The trail starts in a foggy car park of Aguamansa and then for the first 2 kilometres goes up thrugh the forest. At the first fork, I took the left path up the road, passing a small building on the left. From there, the trail continues straight up until reaching another fork, where I took right and then the left turn onto a very hidden path. I know it sounds quite confusing, so best to downloading my gps route and follow the path on your phone or a smartwatch.
The entrance to this forest was simply.. magical. It was something taken out of a fairytale. The fog, colours, surrounding silence. By far, what you see below, is one of is the most beautiful videos I have ever recorded in my life. Take a look at my instagram reel below:
This part of the trail is a steep(ish) climb through the misty forest. After about an hour, I was finally able to see the sky and could walk above the clouds, in a completely different scenery. The path there is dry and pebbly, so be careful as it can be slippery! Here’s where the trail leads to an exposed path towards the peak and a viewing point of the Mirador la Crucita.
Getting to the top of the viewing point of Mirador la Crucita felt great! Here’s where you get to see Teide (Read my guide on how to climb Teide, the highest point of Spain) from a different angle as well as a very nice view of Gran Canaria. On the way back, you can either retrace your steps or have a second car waiting at the trailhead to take you back. I decided to walk the same way back to see how the scenery changes from a sunny to a cloudy environment.
CONCLUSION
I really loved hiking Camino de Candelaria. Although this Pilgrim Route is quiet, I absolutely loved how diverse the trial was. Hiking through the misty forest was probably my favourite part but the views from the top weren’t bad either! If you’re looking for a ‘serene’ experience on less popular trail, Camino de Candelaria is probably your best bet.
HAVE YOU SEEN MY OTHER HIKING GUIDES FOR TENERIFE?
I lived and worked in Tenerife for three months, hiking nearly every day. I’ve explored over 70 trails to bring you an ultimate guide – highlighting the Top 30 Best Hikes in Tenerife. Each guide has a detailed description including the distance, difficulty, gear needed and everything else needed to complete the hike successfully. If you happen to notice any changes on the trail that should be updated – please drop the comment below so I can keep this guide up to date.
If you prefer easier hikes that can be completed under 3 hours, check out Top 12 Short Hikes in Tenerife guide.
Safe and happy hiking my friend!
